Machine for separating and concentrating ores and metals



3 Sheets--Sheet l.

(No Model.)

M. LANE.

MAGHNE FOR SEPARATING.A ANDGONGBNTRATING DRES AND METALS. No. 306,266. Patented Oct. 7, 18811.

N. PETERS. Phuln-Lnlwgnphnn waslmgnm. D. c.

3 sheets-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

M. LANE. MAGHINE POB. SEPARATING AND GONGENTRATING GRES AND METALS. No. 306,266. A Patented Oct. 7,1884.

2,.. 'In if A gyf MWA WW1 (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

IVI. LANE. MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND GONGENTNATING DRES AND METALS. No. 306,266. Patented Oet. 7, 1884.

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@NTTnn STATES l'taTnNT Trier;

MARCUS LANE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING AND CONCENTRATING ORES AND METALS.

.SPECIFICATION forming part; of Letters Patent No. 306,266, dated October 7, 1884. Application filed December 26. 1883. (No modcLl To all whom, it may concern.-

Bc it known that I, MA RoUs LANE, a citizen' ofthe United States, and residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Separating and Concentrating Orcs and Metals, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a plan View of a machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe same, the dust chamber and screen being partly broken away; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the same, looking toward the screen;Fig. 4, a section of the same, taken on the broken line .1v a2, Fig. l; Fig. 5, a detail plan section of one ofthe concentrating-vessels on an enlarged scale, Fig. 6, a detail section of a part of Fig. 5, taken on the line of said ligure, and on a still more enlarged scale; Fig. 7, afront elevation ofthe tube shown in Fig. G; Fig. 8, a section ofthe machine, taken on the line e c, Fig. 3, and on the same scale; Fig. 9, a detail section of the pans, taken on the line w w, Fig. 4; Fig. 10, an elevation ofa dust chamber, and Fig. ll a plan view of the same.

My invention relates to a machine for the concentration of metallic ores or met-als in a dry condition without the use of water in any part of the process.

I am aware that various machines have been heretofore produced for a like purpose; but in practice several defects have been developed. In some, clouds of dust are produced which render the operation unhealthy and imperfect, and in the treatment of complex ores there is a great loss, as onlyl the heaviest parts are saved, the lighter but equally valuable metals being rejected and. lost with the refuse matter, and also there has been a want of adaptation in the machines to different ores having different component parts and differing in weight.

It is the object ot' my present invention to overcome these defects, and to produce a machine adapted'to work different and complex ores and without the annoyance of escaping dust. y

I will proceed to describe in detail the construction and operation .of a machinein which l in one way I practically embody my invention, and will then point out definitely in the claims the special improvements which I believe to be new and wish ro protect by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents a revolving screen, which is mounted within a chamber, B, by which it is inclosed, the latter being as nearly air-tight as possible. The screen is of conical form, the smaller diameter being at the receiving end, and is mounted on a horizontal shaft, and is also constructed with double walls or screening-surfaces a c. `It

will be seen from Fig. 8 ofthe drawings that this construction provides virtually two cones, one within the other, and the inner cone, a., is somewhat longer than the other, c, and the material is received from any suitable device into the end ot' the inner cone. The screening-surfaces c are somewhat coarser than the surfaces ed, so that the coarser parts of the crushed ore are retained by the screen a., the finer parts being passed through, but stopped by the surfaces af, which are intended to be of such a degree of fineness as to permit the passage only of fine dust into the chamber around the outside of the screen. At thebottom of the dust-chamber isapassage, b, which connects with a passage or pipe, b', running to dust-chambers C G C?, Beyond the point of connection between the pipes Z) b the latter receives from an ordinary blower a blast of air which, at the point of junction, produces a strong suction through the pipe b, and from the chamber B, by means ot' which the dust is drawn out from the latter and earried forward into the dust-chambers C C', dre. The same result may be accomplished by a suction-fan arranged to operate in the pipe I), so as to draw from the chamber B and discharge into the pipe b.

The dust-chambers are separatedbypartitions c, with openings ct arranged alternately on opposite sides of the chambers, so that constant interruptions are presented to the current of air seeking exit through the chambers, and hence the dust is continually falling in the different compartments. This construction and operation of dust-chambers is old and well known, and need not be specially described further. Obviously, t-he heavier particles will be deposited in the first chamber or eompart that passes out through the first-named pasother series, because it is arranged to treat a yited in the first chamber with the heavier forms of the royal metals; next, the iron, then the gangue matter, and, finally, such forms of the metals as are lighter than the gangue matter.

The material collected in. the dust-chambers from time to time is removed, sampled, and assayed, and when not sufficiently concentrated is brought back and-again run through the blast-pipes into the dust-chambers. ln this operation the material may be fed to the blast-pipes by a hopper or any common and suitable device, or it may be conveyed by a carrier and fed either into the pipe b or the pipe b2 Vheneverthe gangue matter contains flux material, it can by this process be saved for use in the smelting of other ores.

The screen being cone-shaped, as already described, the particles of ore retained therein will of course gradually move to the larger end of the screen, and there'is provided a discharge-opening, b2,in the end of the chambcrB, through which the coarser ore retained by the screen a is delivered, and also a smaller opening, b3, through which the finer ore collected by the screen a is delivered. The coarser ore sage falls upon the first of a series of shaking screens, D D D2, &c., and the finer ore, that is delivered from the opening b", falls upon the first of a series of similar screens, E E E2, &c.

The two series of shaking screens just mentioned are graded in iineuess, the first of each series being the finest, so that the liner portions of the ore are passed through, while the coarser portions are shaken and delivered to the next screen, which still further separates the material, and in like manner the process is continued through the entire series, it being understood, of course, that t-he series E, E, and E2 is finer comparatively than the iner material coming from the revolving screen. The coarser portion on the iirst series of screens, D, D', and D2, finally passes over a lip, di, at the outer edge of the last of theserics, where it Ais gathered and returned to the crusher or rolls, to be further reduced and concentrated, as desired. rlhe ore delivered to the other series, E, E', and El, is treated in precisely the same manner, the coarser particles beingvdelivered from one screen to the other, the only difference being that the last screen passes all of the material, or substantially all, and there will be no coarse particles vfor further treatment at the reducing mechanism.- These screens are in the shape of concave pans d e, arranged one a little below the other in each series, and each provided with a separating diaphragm or sieve, d e', located a little distance below the 'tops of the pans. Below each of these diaphragms or screens is an inaoc,

clined bottom, d3 e3, extending from end to end ofthe pans and inclining downward and outward. Obviously, then, the material passing through the screens and falling upon the inclined bottoms will be delivered at'the outer ends of the latter by the shaking motion of the screens, where openings die4 are made in the ends ot' the pans for the discharge of the partieles of ore. A shaking motion is given to the pansin the direction of their length in the following way: Each series is mounted upon a suitable carriage, F,which is provided with rollers f at the lower ends of its supports, which in turn are mounted on ways j", secured to suitable supporting-frames,f. Arock-shaft, G, is mounted on suitable supports outside of `the pans and at right angles to the length ot' the latter. Only the inner end, to which the working parts are attached, is shown in the drawings, as this only is necessary, it being understood, ofcourse, that the shaft is suitably supported, and that au oscillating motion is communicated to it -by any suitable motor. At the inner end of this shaftare two crankarms, g, secured thereto, and the upper or outer ends of these arms are connected to the respective screen-carriages by means of links .0'- shaft will give a vibratory movement to the carriages, and thereby to the screens, in -the direction of their length.

The ore from the shaking screens is delivered from the inclined bottom, as described, into concentrating-vessels H, a series of which is arranged on each side of the shaking screens and just below them, as shown in the drawings. At the top of each of these concentrating Vessels is a screen, l1., which will pass through all pieces' of ore that are delivered to it from the shaking screens above, and each concentrator also has a partition, h', running across it at right angles to the delivery of material from the shaking screens. The top screens, h, are inclined downward and outward slightly,so that there will be a tendency oi' the material delivered to each concentrator tomove outward over the screens when the lat-- ter are shaken, as will be described. The concentrators ineach series are secured together by suitable straps, 7L, or any other device which will connect and support them 5 and to the outside of each of the outer ones are attached projecting arms I, in the ends of which are mounted rollers l,which are arranged to run on ways i', located on suitable supporting-plati'orms, J, so that each series may be moved back and forth on these supporting-roller ways in a direction at right angles to the movement of the shaking screens.

In the drawings I have shown means for communicating a reciprocating motion to each series of eoncentrators from the same rockshai't which imparts motion to the shaking screens. A single crank-arm, g2, is fastened to the rock-shaft outside of the crank-arms g.

On the supporting-frames, at the outer ends ofv the series of concentrators, are mounted bellcrank levers K, arranged to swing horizontal- Obviously, then, the oscillation of the IOO IIO

Iy. A conneetingrodv or pitman, It, attaches one arm of each of these levers to the crankarm g2, and the other arm of the lever is connected by a rod, Zz', to the outer coueeutrator of each series. Obviously, then, the oscillation of the rockfshai't will produce a reci procal movement of the concentrators across the line of movement ot' the screens. An air-pipe, L, connected either with the blower to the dustchambers or with someother blower, is run horizontally between and underneath the series of shaking screens, and from this pipe cross-pipes M are extended to each concentrator, the outer ends communicating with the interior of the concentrators by means of tlexible tubes m and m', the former ot which opens into the compartment outside ofthe partition h', and the latter into the inner compartment inside of the same partition, as shown in Figs. t and 5 ofthe drawings. llach branch terminates with a perforated head or nozzle, m2, and each is provided with a separate stop-cock, on, each of the pipes M being also provided with air-chambers M, to give uniformity to the pressure in connection with the stop-cocks mentioned. At the bottom of each concent ator are hinged valves h"-oue for each compartment-and held in position by levers hf, on which are sliding weights r". Anair-pipe, N, connecting with the :main air-pipe and blower, heretofore mentioned, is also carried around o'n the outside oit' the eoucentrators, and a branch, a, extends up theret'rom in front of each conccntrator,` terminating in an elongated. tlaring mouth, a', just below the outer end of the concentrator-sereen, as shown in Figs. 4 and (i ofthe drawings. Each of these branches is provided with a stopleock, a?, by means ot' which the pressure or air may be regulated. y

Just outside of each conceutrator, and beyond the air-pipe just described, is a receptaele, O, the top of which is about on a line with the top ofthe outside air-pipe. This receiver 'is provided with wheels 0, running on ways 0,

on suitable supports, so that it may be readily moved.

lt will be understood, of course, that this apparatus requires an engine or motor of some kind for the purpose of imparting the required motion to the blower or blowers and the screens and concentrators described above. There is no .necessity ot' showing and describing` this engine, however, as any motor suitable for the purpose may be employed.

The operation ofthe mechanism for' treating the orc after it is delivered from the revolving screens is as follows: The ore is delivered from the revolving screen to one or the other series of the shaking screens, as described above. It

isseparated by the screens ot' these shaking pans,and delivered from the inclined bottoms thereof to the concentrators below their outer ends, falling upon the screens at the tops of the concentrators. The ore thus falling upon the tops of the concentrators would pass through the screens and lie at the bottoms on the valves at the bottoms ol' the coneentrators but for the fact that currents of air are brought into the nsideot' the concentrators, as described Iabove, and by constant pressure are made to pass up through these connnartments, this pressure being regulated by means ofthe airchainbers and stop-cocks already mentioned, so that it o'lt'ers resistance to the grains of ore, weighing them in fact, and only allows the heaviest to pass down and fall upon the bottoms ot' the coucentrators. Suppose, for instance, that the ore is one containing lead, iron, gold, and silver, the precious metals being in much smaller quantities than the others, the pressure of air in the first compartment of the concentrator. is regulated so that only the heavier metals can overcome its resistance and pass downward, hence the metallic lead and the heavier forms of the royal metals would chiefly be gathered in this Erst vessel, while thelighter portions and a good portion of the iron would be passed forward over to the second or outer compartment. ln this latter compartment there is also an air-pressure, which is regulated, however, so as to be somewhat lighter than that in the tirst compartment, so as to permit all metallic particles that are heavier than the gaugue matter to fall down tothe bottom ofthe compartment, but sutliciently strong to prevent the dropping ofthe gangue matter and all forms ot' metal that are still lighter than such matter, and so compelling them to pass on over thelip of the vessel to the waste below; but as the gangue matter and other lighter forms of various metals pass over the lip of t-he vessel. astrong current of air is discharged up into it through the flaring mouths of the outside pipes. The eiiectis to impart motion to all the falling matter, blowing the substance ofthe various metals that are lighter than the gangue matter the farthest away. The receptacles Oare arranged at such a distance from the eoncentrators as to catch these lighter forms of the metals, which are thus saved, while the heavier gangue matter falls to the waste.

It will be noticed that the pressure at ditl i ferent points, both within the compartments and outside the lips ofthe eoncentrators, can be regulated very quickly, so as to vary the pressures according to the qualities of different ores by means of the various independent stop-cocks, all working with very iine screwthreads.

lhe concentrated ore is disposed of as follows: The valves at the bottom of each concentrator are so weighted by the adjustable weights as to just a little more than counterbalance the air-pressure in the vessel. \Vhen, therefore, a quantity of concentrated ore has collected on each valve, the weight ofthe metal, joined to the air-pressure,will open the .latter sufficiently to allow a good part of the concentrated metal to escape until the Vweight on the valve overcomes the resistance and closes the latter. The discharge of the concentrations is therefore both automatic and capable IOO IIO

4 oazes of regulation, according to the requirements of each case.

,The concentrations from the first and second compartments may be kept separate from each otherin the delivery, or they may be delivered into a common receptacle.

, I prefer in the use of this apparatus to keep the main air-pressure as nearly uniform as possible by means of ihe supplemental airvchambers on the various pipes; but it is not yabsolutely necessary to do this, for if the airchambers are removed, the stop cocks would still furnish means for regulating the pressure with reasonable success, and the air would be forced in the form of frequent puffs, adding to the motion ofthe grains of ore, but also rendering the apparatus a little more difficult to adjust with the required delicacy.

I have described one way in which the mechanical parts may be constructed and organized for carrying out my invention in practical form; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to details'of construction and arrangement, for, obviously, these may be varied mechanically without departing from the principles of my invention. rEhis is espey cially true with reference to the mechanism v described and shown.

employed for imparting motion to the screens and eoncentrators. Any proper devices for this purpose .may be substituted for those herein It is also obvious that one series of shaking screens and eoncentrators might be used instead of two; but I prefer the two, because the work is distributed so as t relieve the strain upon the screens.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The dust-screen, in combination with one or. more series of shaking pans provided with graded screens, and arranged to receive the `ore delivered from the dust-screen, substair tially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The revolving dust-screen, in combination with the shaking screens arranged in series and mounted on roller-carriages, platforms with ways for the roller-carriages, running :in the direction of the length of the screens, and a rock-shaft provided with crank'- arms connected,respectively,to the roller-earriages-of the screenssubstantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The dust-screen, in combination with one or more series of shaking screens, to which the ore is delivered from the'former, a series of eoncentrators for each series of screens, a-rranged to receive the separated ore delivered from the shaking screens, and apparatus whereby an air-blast is passed th rough the concentrators graduated to separate t-he heavier and lighter materials, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The con centrators arranged to receive the separated ore, and divided by partitions into front and back compartments, in combination with air-pipes opening separately into each compartment, and devices for regulating the airpressure in said pipes, whereby it may be made greater in lthe first compartment and lighter in the second or outer compartment, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The eoncentrators arranged to receive the separated ore, in combination with an air-pipe arranged on the outside of each concentrator, and provided with a flaring mouth opening just at the edge of the lip of the latter, whereby a blast of air is brought into operation upon the gangue matter and lighter material discharged over the lip of the conccntrator, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The shaking screens, in combination with the eoncentrators fastened together in series, and provided with roller-supports, and suitable ways on supporting-platforms for the rollers, arranged to permit a vibration of the concentrators at right angles to the movement of the shaking screens, and mechanism whereby a reciprocating movement is communicated to the eoncentrators, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. The eoncentrators secured together in series, and provided with roller-supports at each end of the series, in combination with platforms having ways on which the rollers are mounted, the rock-shaft, the bell-crank levers, and the connecting-rods connecting the latter, respectively, to a crankfarm on the rock-shaft and to the respective series of eoncentrators, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. The shaking screens provided with'rollers mounted on suitable ways, in combination with the eoncentrators, also provided with rollers mounted on suitable ways at right angles to the former ways, and the rock-shaft connected, respectively, to both the shaking screens and the eoncentrators, whereby the single shaft imparts a reciprocating motion to both screens and eoncentrators, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. rIhe shaking screens, in combination with the eoncentrators composed of two compartments arranged one in front of the other, airpipes opening, respectively, into each compartment, and provided-with devices for regulating the pressure in each, and an air-pipe arranged on the outside ofthe concentrator and terminating at the edge of the lip ofthe latter, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. The eoncentrators, in combination with air-blast pipes entering the eoncentrators, discharge-valves at the bottoms of the concentrators, and adjustable weights for closing the valves, whereby a pressure of air is produced inside the eoncentrators, and the force operating` to close the valves may be adj usted to slightly exceed the said air-pressure, so as to make the discharge from the eoncentrators automatic, substantially as described.

MARCUS LANE.

W'itnesses;

G. E. AlilAULKivER, A. M. BEsT.

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